Do things together outside of Church. If all the church staff does together is work together, then how can they possibly expect to love, serve and want to work side-by-side with each other? Of all the places I have worked, the ones that take time to do things outside of church together are the ones where there seems to be more healthy interactions together. After all, how can you possibly be frustrated with another staffer when you get to shoot them up all day long at laser tag? Just kidding, but seriously, there is a bond that starts to be developed when you go out to lunch together or grab a coffee, or do a quick errand together. Walls and barriers that may try to exist between staffers can quickly come down if you spend time together, outside of the Church walls. Another idea would be to do more Staff functions. Have staff and spouse dinners together, or special event times like a Christmas party. These will all help.
Share about personal lives. I believe that if you really want a team to work together for a common purpose, you have to invest in each other and get to know each other. This doesn’t mean that you have to go and share all your dirty laundry, but it would be good for you all to get to know who each of you all are and what makes you all tick. That way, when something big happens in your (or a member of the staff) life, the rest of staff can come around and support them. Regardless, getting to know who each staffer is helps to break down walls when conflict does arise (which it will).
Keep short accounts. This has burned countless relationships. When short accounts are not kept, bickering, bitterness, anger and a whole lot of other unhealthy emotions start to get in the way. Do not let conflict give Satan a foothold. You may not like confrontation, but if you do not bring an issue before another staffer, Satan WILL use it against you and the church. You need to bring the issue into the light and deal with it. Personally, I do not like confrontation, but I have found over the years that if I do not share and bring the issue up, I become very unhealthy and it causes so much bitterness and anger inside of me. I HAVE to bring it up or else Satan will destroy me.
I believe that in order for these 3 to really take off is to have strong senior leadership. This is really the bottom line. Staffers want to be led. They don’t want to see double standards or favoritism. They need someone to lead them, that can say the hard work and challenge while encouraging and spurring them on at the same time. This may be in your control (if you are the ministry head) or out of your control. But regardless of your role, you can do something. You can personally do the above 3 regardless of whether or not senior leadership does.
Obviously these are not the only ways to develop and build community amongst the staff, but these are 3 that I have found helpful over the years. What do you think? Have you seen these or other ways work in your ministry? If so, how? Post a comment so we can all benefit.
Then,
TAKE A MINUTE and examine how you can do a better job of helping build community with your fellow co-workers. Is it one of the above 3 or is it something else? Examine your situation, bring it before the Lord for wisdom and direction and then act.]]>
It sounds good and I think it can work.